Job summary
This vacancy is being managed by the LAW Absolute agency and your application showing your work history and dates will be shared with the agency along with your name, email address and mobile number.
The agency may make contact with you to discuss your application before putting you forward to the shortlisting stage.
Longlisting is managed by the agency.
We're seeking a senior solicitor or barrister to join on a permanent basis as Director of Legal Services / Legal Counsel to lead the Legal Services Team.
You will advise the organisation in all corporate affairs legal matters, including general healthcare, regulation and compliance. You will also provide advocacy in court where necessary, report to the Board, collaborate with the wider senior management team, and assist the development of the lawyers in your team.
To apply you will be:
- UK-qualified solicitor or barrister
- Significantly experienced working in the legal healthcare sector, including leading a team
- Looking for the opportunity to drive forward an already successful legal services team, and continually identifying areas to improve
- Able to commute to the office in Oxfordshire on a hybrid basis
This role is being offered on a full-time and permanent basis, with salary starting from £99,891 per annum.
For more information and to apply, please contact Louise Hull at LAW Absolute: lhull@lawabsolute.com / direct dial: 0207 092 8029.
Main duties of the job
The role of Legal Counsel (LC) at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is to advise and guide the Trust in all Corporate Affairs and Assurance department legal matters and to ensure that the Trust is legally compliant in its internal and external undertakings. This role is of particular importance in light of the current environment of uncertainty and change in which the Trust is operating, and the LC will advise the Trust on the implications of potential legislative changes and on other strategic and organisational developments where not already covered by other in-house legal advisors.
The LC leads, oversees and coordinates the Trust's Corporate Affairs Legal Services and Subject Access teams, and works alongside other legal functions within the Trust. The LC has responsibility for ensuring that the Corporate Affairs Legal Services and Subject Access teams provide high quality advice, operate in a cohesive and mutually supportive way, and that legal advisers under line management maintain their professional development requirements and develop necessary skills and abilities to enhance their value to the Trust.
About us
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research.
The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.
Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call thisDelivering Compassionate Excellenceand its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence. These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via theOUH YouTube channel.
At OUH we are a flexible working accredited organisation, we recognise the demands and commitments individuals have outside of their working life. we support various methods of flexible working ranging from set working patterns to part time working or job share opportunities. We encourage our managers and our candidates to discuss what flexible working options available to you at OUH.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the full job description and person specification attached.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Base
John Radcliffe Hospital as the base but the role covers all sites
Grade
Band 9
Directorate
Assurance
Responsible to
Chief Assurance Officer
Accountable to
Chief Assurance Officer
Responsible for
Corporate Affairs Legal Services, corporate legal advice
Other
1. Job Summary
The role of Legal Counsel (LC) at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is to advise and guide the Trust in all Corporate Affairs and Assurance department legal matters and to ensure that the Trust is legally compliant in its internal and external undertakings. This role is of particular importance in light of the current environment of uncertainty and change in which the Trust is operating, and the LC will advise the Trust on the implications of potential legislative changes and on other strategic and organisational developments where not already covered by other in-house legal advisors.
The LC leads, oversees and coordinates the Trusts Corporate Affairs Legal Services and Subject Access teams, and works alongside other legal functions within the Trust. The LC has responsibility for ensuring that the Corporate Affairs Legal Services and Subject Access teams provide high quality advice, operate in a cohesive and mutually supportive way, and that legal advisers under line management maintain their professional development requirements and develop necessary skills and abilities to enhance their value to the Trust.
The LC oversees the approach the Trust takes to sourcing internal and external legal advice, ensuring an appropriate balance and continuously reviewing the value for money and quality of the legal advice received. The LC will identify areas of risk where Corporate Affairs legal input is required, and develop and manage recommendations as to how best to resource this requirement.
The LC has the core gatekeeper role of ensuring both the legality and integrity of decision-making at the Trust, and of compliance generally with all non-clinical legal requirements. The LC will be responsible for the formulation of long-term strategic plans to drive financial savings in the Trusts legal costs, working collaboratively with other in house legal advisors. In particular, they will be expected to develop business plans and business cases with long term savings targets.
The LC also contributes to the success of the Trusts corporate strategy and consequential projects for patient benefit both now and into the future by participating proactively and creatively in relevant business activities. In doing so the LC will work alongside other legal teams within the Trust if needed. The LC will be responsible for the development of relevant corporate policies and procedures for the oversight of the Trusts legal proceedings and for compliance with Law Society requirements.
The LC provides pragmatic and solutions-based legal advice to the Chair, Chief Executive and all other Board Directors, to Board and Executive Committees and to wider senior management teams and individuals as required.
In summary, the LC is an essential adviser to the organisation in:
- horizon scanning, identification and management of legal risk to (i) help empower Trust colleagues to act and transact within the parameters of legal compliance and (ii) reduce as far as possible the Trusts necessary commitment to event remediation, including disputes and litigation.
- managing non-clinical legal resource.
- adding business value through effective and efficient use of legal services
2. Key Relationships
The key relationships for the LC will be as follows:
- Daily/frequent contact with the Chief Assurance Officer and Director of Corporate Affairs, and Director of Regulatory Compliance and Assurance.
- Regular contact with the Chief Executive and other Executive and Non-Executive Board members and with the wider senior management team.
3. Duties and Responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities for the LC will be as follows:
- Review of Corporate Affairs legal advice sourced internally and externally by the Trust, identifying any gaps and overlaps, providing a quality assurance function and ensuring the Trust makes effective, efficient and economic use of legal services at all times.
- Providing personal support and counsel to the Chair, Chief Executive and all other Directors/executives/members of senior management as may be required.
- Ensure compliance with all relevant corporate and commercial law requirements, and those of national oversight bodies and regulators.
- Professional lead for all lawyers within Corporate Affairs; as required, lead, motivate and develop lawyers as may be specified.
- Bring together a forum of senior in house lawyers periodically to share best practice and agree any cross functional approaches.
- Accountable for ensuring the Legal Services function within Corporate Affairs, provide an effective service of advice and support in relation to medical litigation and personal injury claims, inquests, care proceedings and other related issues.
- Ensure that the Legal Services function within Corporate Affairs provides the skills, knowledge and expertise to commission appropriate external legal advice, within a specific financial envelope.
- Responsible for the oversight of the Corporate Affairs Legal Services and Subject Access teams budget and for the reduction of spend on external legal advice, with specific identified savings targets to be delivered.
- Improve legal governance and attendant decision-making against clear accountability.
- Responsible for the use and development of specific information systems used within the Corporate Affairs Legal Services and Subject Access team functions, for the development of reporting within the Corporate Affairs Legal Services team and externally to the wider Trust. These should be in line with Trust requirements and the needs of GIRFT and NHS Resolution.
- Develop the strategy to ensure improvements in the safety and wellbeing of patients are being addressed by ensuring effective learning from medico-legal claims.
- High quality reporting for the executive and Board on legal issues
- Collaborative and supportive working with all other assurance functions in developing reporting and oversight arrangements to enable successful delivery of corporate priorities
- External representative and ambassador for the Trust, fostering good stakeholder relations at all levels including with the Trusts many partners including those in the AHSC, AHP, ICS and others, specifically act as Trust legal advocate attending court, in person (where required), reacting to cross examination requiring intense concentration on a frequent basis.
- To act as a champion for patients and their interests, and to involve the governors, members, patients and the public in the Trusts corporate activities whenever appropriate
- To promote an equal and diverse working environment.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the full job description and person specification attached.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Base
John Radcliffe Hospital as the base but the role covers all sites
Grade
Band 9
Directorate
Assurance
Responsible to
Chief Assurance Officer
Accountable to
Chief Assurance Officer
Responsible for
Corporate Affairs Legal Services, corporate legal advice
Other
1. Job Summary
The role of Legal Counsel (LC) at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is to advise and guide the Trust in all Corporate Affairs and Assurance department legal matters and to ensure that the Trust is legally compliant in its internal and external undertakings. This role is of particular importance in light of the current environment of uncertainty and change in which the Trust is operating, and the LC will advise the Trust on the implications of potential legislative changes and on other strategic and organisational developments where not already covered by other in-house legal advisors.
The LC leads, oversees and coordinates the Trusts Corporate Affairs Legal Services and Subject Access teams, and works alongside other legal functions within the Trust. The LC has responsibility for ensuring that the Corporate Affairs Legal Services and Subject Access teams provide high quality advice, operate in a cohesive and mutually supportive way, and that legal advisers under line management maintain their professional development requirements and develop necessary skills and abilities to enhance their value to the Trust.
The LC oversees the approach the Trust takes to sourcing internal and external legal advice, ensuring an appropriate balance and continuously reviewing the value for money and quality of the legal advice received. The LC will identify areas of risk where Corporate Affairs legal input is required, and develop and manage recommendations as to how best to resource this requirement.
The LC has the core gatekeeper role of ensuring both the legality and integrity of decision-making at the Trust, and of compliance generally with all non-clinical legal requirements. The LC will be responsible for the formulation of long-term strategic plans to drive financial savings in the Trusts legal costs, working collaboratively with other in house legal advisors. In particular, they will be expected to develop business plans and business cases with long term savings targets.
The LC also contributes to the success of the Trusts corporate strategy and consequential projects for patient benefit both now and into the future by participating proactively and creatively in relevant business activities. In doing so the LC will work alongside other legal teams within the Trust if needed. The LC will be responsible for the development of relevant corporate policies and procedures for the oversight of the Trusts legal proceedings and for compliance with Law Society requirements.
The LC provides pragmatic and solutions-based legal advice to the Chair, Chief Executive and all other Board Directors, to Board and Executive Committees and to wider senior management teams and individuals as required.
In summary, the LC is an essential adviser to the organisation in:
- horizon scanning, identification and management of legal risk to (i) help empower Trust colleagues to act and transact within the parameters of legal compliance and (ii) reduce as far as possible the Trusts necessary commitment to event remediation, including disputes and litigation.
- managing non-clinical legal resource.
- adding business value through effective and efficient use of legal services
2. Key Relationships
The key relationships for the LC will be as follows:
- Daily/frequent contact with the Chief Assurance Officer and Director of Corporate Affairs, and Director of Regulatory Compliance and Assurance.
- Regular contact with the Chief Executive and other Executive and Non-Executive Board members and with the wider senior management team.
3. Duties and Responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities for the LC will be as follows:
- Review of Corporate Affairs legal advice sourced internally and externally by the Trust, identifying any gaps and overlaps, providing a quality assurance function and ensuring the Trust makes effective, efficient and economic use of legal services at all times.
- Providing personal support and counsel to the Chair, Chief Executive and all other Directors/executives/members of senior management as may be required.
- Ensure compliance with all relevant corporate and commercial law requirements, and those of national oversight bodies and regulators.
- Professional lead for all lawyers within Corporate Affairs; as required, lead, motivate and develop lawyers as may be specified.
- Bring together a forum of senior in house lawyers periodically to share best practice and agree any cross functional approaches.
- Accountable for ensuring the Legal Services function within Corporate Affairs, provide an effective service of advice and support in relation to medical litigation and personal injury claims, inquests, care proceedings and other related issues.
- Ensure that the Legal Services function within Corporate Affairs provides the skills, knowledge and expertise to commission appropriate external legal advice, within a specific financial envelope.
- Responsible for the oversight of the Corporate Affairs Legal Services and Subject Access teams budget and for the reduction of spend on external legal advice, with specific identified savings targets to be delivered.
- Improve legal governance and attendant decision-making against clear accountability.
- Responsible for the use and development of specific information systems used within the Corporate Affairs Legal Services and Subject Access team functions, for the development of reporting within the Corporate Affairs Legal Services team and externally to the wider Trust. These should be in line with Trust requirements and the needs of GIRFT and NHS Resolution.
- Develop the strategy to ensure improvements in the safety and wellbeing of patients are being addressed by ensuring effective learning from medico-legal claims.
- High quality reporting for the executive and Board on legal issues
- Collaborative and supportive working with all other assurance functions in developing reporting and oversight arrangements to enable successful delivery of corporate priorities
- External representative and ambassador for the Trust, fostering good stakeholder relations at all levels including with the Trusts many partners including those in the AHSC, AHP, ICS and others, specifically act as Trust legal advocate attending court, in person (where required), reacting to cross examination requiring intense concentration on a frequent basis.
- To act as a champion for patients and their interests, and to involve the governors, members, patients and the public in the Trusts corporate activities whenever appropriate
- To promote an equal and diverse working environment.
Person Specification
Essential
Essential
- A qualified solicitor or barrister with very significant post qualification experience
Person Specification
Essential
Essential
- A qualified solicitor or barrister with very significant post qualification experience
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
